Correctional Employee Wellness Monograph

Figure 3

Figure 3 shows the frequency and timing at which health education top- ics are offered. All topics are offered “as needed,” indicating responsive- ness to circumstances as they arise. Suicide awareness is provided annu- ally among most agencies. While not yet routinely offered, providing health education during the Academy is an opportunity to provide comprehensive health education to incoming correc- tional staff on all topics.

Timing of Health Education

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Staff Suicide Awareness

Stress Management

Time Management Coping Skills Financial Wellness Other Health Education Topics

Corrections agency types differ in provision of health education. Local agencies are less likely to provide health education (40%) compared to state agencies (51%). When local agencies provide health education, coping skills, staff suicide awareness, and time management are least likely to be covered. Among local agencies, one rural agency (25%) and one suburban agency (17%) offer any health educa- tion, while 53% of urban agencies offer health education. Stress management is the only topic offered by at least one agency across rural, suburban and urban settings.

Academy Annually As Needed

Table 2

All Regions (N=61)

Barriers

Lack of funding

71%

Lack of adequate staffing level

53%

Lack of physical space

36%

Lack of interest

30%

Lack of information/knowledge

21%

Lack of community resources

15%

Organizational culture

8%

Barriers to offering staff wellness programs Identifying the barriers to offering staff wellness programs is important for prioritizing program offerings. Table 2 presents reported barriers. Overall, lack of funding, lack of adequate staffing and lack of physical space are most often cited. Overall, the rank order of barriers is the same across state and local facilities. Although percentage of state agencies reporting each barrier was higher than local agen- cies, lack of funding (73% vs. 65%), physical space (39% vs. 30%) and staffing level (61% vs. 35%) were highest for states vs. local agencies, respectively. Lack of interest (34% vs. 20%) and knowledge (24% vs. 15%) are moder- ate barriers, and lack of community resources (17% vs. 10%) and organizational culture were lowest barriers (9% vs. 4%). →

Photo courtesy Arlington County Sheriff’s Office

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